¿qué significa eso?
The English phrase "what does that mean?" is translated into Spanish as ¿qué significa eso?
¿qué significa eso? is used to ask for the definition or sense of a word, symbol or concept. You can also use the verb significar to say "to mean".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of qué (what), significa (it means) and eso (that).
Which one should you use?
While ¿qué significa eso? focuses on the definition of a word or symbol, the common alternative ¿qué quiere decir eso? can also be used to ask for clarification on a person's intent or implication.
How does it change in a sentence?
Use esto instead of eso in the phrase ¿qué significa esto? if the thing you are referring to is physically close to you or if you are currently holding it. Another common alternative is ¿qué quiere decir eso?, which uses the verb querer decir (to want to say) to mean "to mean".
Did you know?
- In Spanish, using eso instead of esto can signal a psychological distance. A speaker might use eso to refer to an idea they find strange or disagree with, even if the text is right in front of them.
- The word qué is a direct descendant of the Latin word quid. This is the same root used in the English expression 'quid pro quo', meaning 'something for something'.
- The verb significar shares a root with signo (sign) and señal (signal). This connects the act of 'meaning' to the physical act of pointing or marking.
Examples in context
- No entiendo la palabra, ¿qué significa eso?I don't understand the word, what does that mean?
- Leí una frase extraña, ¿qué significa eso?I read a strange phrase, what does that mean?
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are studying a new vocabulary list.
- AlejandroMira esta palabra, es muy rara.Look at this word, it is very strange.
- Elena¿Qué significa eso?What does that mean?
- AlejandroSignifica que tienes mucha suerte.It means that you are very lucky.
- ElenaAh, ahora entiendo perfectamente.Ah, now I understand perfectly.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries eso, qué, CC BY-SA 4.0.
